Georgia lawmakers want to hear from you about reapportionment and redistricting

This fall, Georgia lawmakers will take up the crucial task of redrawing political boundaries and maps that will determine how and who you get to vote for in future elections.

The decennial duty ultimately decides federal representation for your state as well who sits on your county commission, city council and school board. While state legislators are obliged by law to fulfill this duty, citizens also need to understand why this process known as reapportionment and redistricting are necessary.

What is the Difference between Reapportionment and Redistricting?

Reapportionment: Involves reallocating or reassigning U.S. Congressional districts (representation) based on population after every census which occurs every 10 years. A formula is used to redistribute the 435 House seats among the various states.

Redistricting: Is the process of creating new district lines after reapportionment has been completed. It happens at all levels of election districts.

Beginning next Monday, the House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee and the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee will hold a series of joint town hall hearings across the state this summer. The House Committee is chaired by State Representative Bonnie Rich (R-Suwanee). State Sen. John F. Kennedy chairs the Senate Committee.

The town hall-style meetings give committee members a chance to hear your concerns about how they will handle the redistricting process. It gives you an up close feel for how the reapportionment process works. These public hearings will be livestreamed and archived at www.legis.ga.gov. All of the meeting run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Here are the locations and dates of upcoming hearings:

Atlanta: Monday June 28
Cumming: June 29
Dalton: June 30
Athens: July 6
Augusta: July 7
Brunswick: July 26
Albany: July 27
Columbus: July 28
Macon: July 29
Virtual participation only: July 30

Redistricting in Georgia by the Numbers
Population: 10.7 million*
Districts: 14
Number of people each district must have: 765,136
Number of people each Senate district must have: 191,284
Number of people each House district must have: 59,511
Source: Georgia Office of Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment
*2020 census data

Georgia lawmakers want to hear from you about reapportionment and redistricting

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